Shower Niches That Don't Leak
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A recessed niche for shampoo and soap is on almost every shower wish list. It's also one of the spots most likely to leak, because it's a box cut into the waterproof wall, with four inside corners, four outside corners and a flat shelf where water can sit.
How niches fail
Traditional niches are framed with wood, then lined with cement board and patched with waterproofing. Every one of those corners has to be sealed perfectly. If the shelf is flat or tilts inward, water pools against the back wall. Over time it finds a gap and soaks into the framing.
The pre-made Schluter niche
Schluter's KERDI-BOARD-SN niche is a one-piece foam box that's already waterproof, with the KERDI membrane bonded on. We cut the opening between studs, set the niche in, and seal its flange into the wall's waterproofing with KERDI-BAND. No wood, no field-built corners. It's one part of the full Schluter shower system.
There's also a version with built-in LED lighting (KERDI-BOARD-SNLT), which gives a soft glow inside the niche. It's a small detail that makes a shower feel custom.
Browse niches and other parts: Schluter shower systems on Amazon.
Tips for planning your niche
Placement: put it on a wall without plumbing, and out of the direct spray so bottles don't sit in water.
Height: most people like the bottom shelf around chest height. For kids or seated showering, consider a second, lower niche.
Tile layout: we plan the niche so its edges line up with grout lines. That's the difference between a niche that looks built-in and one that looks added on.
Exterior walls: avoid them where possible, since that's where insulation goes.
Planning a new shower?
Tell Mike where you'd like your niche and he'll plan the tile around it. See our Schluter shower installation service, or call or text 916-847-2825.
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